Confcomercio Reports the percentage of Women in the labor market The low participation of Italian women has an important economic impact: despite some progress, Italy is far from European standards, with Losses of billions of euros of potential development.
Women’s Under-Participation in the World of Work: The Data
One of the key figures from the Confcommercio meeting “Women, Business, Future – Spaces and Times” Female participation rate: Between the ages of 15 and 74, it’s still stuck at 49.3 percent. The gap with EU women’s employment (61.8%) is still very high.
This, which has increased in recent years, represents a gap of 12 percentage points compared to Europe, with serious economic consequences. If Italy reaches the European rate, it can be achieved 2.76 million more women were employed.giving a strong boost to national GDP growth.
| Anno | EU26 population (millions) | EU26 participation rate (%) | Population of Italy (millions) | Participation rate Italy (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 145,0 | 60,0 | 22,6 | 48,4 |
| 2023 | 146,7 | 61,8 | 22,2 | 49,3 |
Carlo SingaliThe president of Confcommercio commented on these figures, pointing out how the inclusion of women is an “investment for the future”. And again:
The time and space we dedicate to women entrepreneurship is fundamental to building a stronger economy, one in which women can be at the center of ongoing change. Environmental transition For digital.
More Women in the Tertiary Sector: An Employment Engine
The tertiary sector asserts itself as a privileged environment for female entrepreneurship. According to the data presented, 68% of Italian women entrepreneurs works in this sector, in which the share of women in the third market reaches 36.2% of operators, compared to the general economic average of 30.6%. The sectors with the highest female presence are tourist operators (52.6%), hotels (50.1%) and personal services (64.2%), indicating strong female expertise in hospitality and wellness-related sectors.
| Sector | Number of women entrepreneurs | Change from 2019 | Percentage Female (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wholesale trade | 80.536 | -7.073 | 19,7 |
| Wide distribution | 20.121 | -4.874 | 44,9 |
| Small food business | 25.606 | -5.206 | 29,4 |
| Small non-food businesses | 192.851 | -28.112 | 39,0 |
| Hotel | 8.141 | -1.991 | 50,1 |
| Other tour operators | 20.647 | +4.226 | 52,6 |
| The restaurant | 54.792 | -3.628 | 37,9 |
| Bar | 46.431 | -9.979 | 44,9 |
| Information and culture | 34.083 | -1.368 | 33,6 |
| Professions | 111.830 | +4.560 | 40,7 |
| Other business services | 40.438 | +2.683 | 33, 1 |
| Other services to people | 108.729 | +7.288 | 64,2 |
| Total Tertiary Market | 775.837 | -45.545 | 36,2 |
| The total economy | 1.146.130 | -76.651 | 30,6 |
Anna LapinThe president of Terziario Donna highlighted the importance of a. Corporate Welfare Driven to balance personal and professional life. “Only through welfare tools that are also for women entrepreneurs – not just for employees – and support for co-parenting, will we be able to reduce the gender gap and stimulate economic growth”.
Further implications of epidemiology and regional heterogeneity
Analyzing the changes from 2019 to 2024 in Confcommercio data, it is revealed that the number of female entrepreneurs has decreased significantly in some sectors. Small non-food businesses and bars recorded. More lossesWith -28,112 and -9,979 women entrepreneurs respectively, followed by wholesale trade (-7,073).
In contrast sectors like Services for people (+7,288) and the profession (+4,560) watched Developmentindicating that some activities, particularly those linked to welfare and personal assistance, have proved more flexible and attractive to female entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, the regional analysis highlights significant differences in the presence of women between Italian regions. There Aosta Valley (46.4%) and North-Eastern tourist operators record the highest percentage of female entrepreneurs compared to male ones, while southern regions e.g. Calabria (30.9%) Puglia (30,6%) e Sicily (31.2%) are at the bottom of the ranking. These figures highlight a southern Italy that still struggles to support women’s participation, perhaps due to fewer economic opportunities and structural difficulties.
| area | Number of women entrepreneurs | Change from 2019 | Percentage Female (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont | 69.894 | -4.954 | 39,9 |
| Aosta Valley | 2.253 | -236 | 46,4 |
| Liguria | 26.222 | -2.367 | 40,3 |
| Lombardy | 119.050 | -3.895 | 36,9 |
| Trentino-Alto Adige | 16.569 | -238 | 41,8 |
| Veneto | 70.793 | -5.739 | 38,4 |
| Friuli-Venezia Giulia | 13.961 | -928 | 40,8 |
| Emilia-Romagna | 58.882 | -3.935 | 39,0 |
| Tuscany | 57.401 | -4.039 | 39,0 |
| Umbria | 12.798 | -1.368 | 39,3 |
| Marche | 21.617 | -3.159 | 38,5 |
| Lazio | 64.739 | -7.422 | 34,9 |
| Abruzzo | 18.070 | -1.685 | 37,7 |
| Molise | 3.785 | -288 | 37,0 |
| Campania | 77.715 | -1.956 | 32,9 |
| Puglia | 41.563 | -582 | 30,6 |
| Basilicata | 6.141 | -352 | 34,9 |
| Calabria | 22.714 | -1.222 | 30,9 |
| Sicily | 51.758 | -128 | 31,2 |
| Sardinia | 19.910 | -1.050 | 35,9 |
| Italy yesterday | 775.837 | -45.545 | 36,2 |
Cost of Non-Involvement (in billions)
According to Confcommercio estimates, female employment may increase. Up to 2 billion euros Increase in GDP Furthermore, increasing female participation has a direct impact. Demographic balancein favor of increasing fertility rates and improving the sustainability of pension systems.
Claudio DurriganThe Under Secretary, Ministry of Labour, wanted to highlight the importance of concrete measures: “The role of women in work is fundamental. After the budget, we will launch a new package. Employment incentives for womenBecause it is important to reduce the wage gap and support the birth rate.”
Gender Pay Gap: The difference between men and women
The wage gap between men and women represents a major obstacle to economic equality in Italy. According to the 2023 INPS report, Wages Cumulative weekly average of Men are equal to 643 euros28.34% more than 501 Euros Average perceived by No. A gap that highlights how women, although they represent a substantial portion of the workforce, still earn significantly less than their male counterparts.
Other recent statistics compare earnings between foreign men and women in Italy. On average, community workers (men and women) earn 582 euros per week, but things are getting worse. Non-EU workerswho receive an average of €385 per week. 51% difference Compared to the general average. This difference is particularly acute. Non-EU womenWomen earn an average of just €309 a week compared to €432 for their male counterparts. The situation is exacerbated by the growing presence of foreign workers in new jobs, representing 10.7% of total employees and more than 25% of new hires.
It shows how The wage gap This is not only a question of gender, but also of nationality and immigration status, which seems to include non-EU women. Most penalized categories in front of salary. The pay gap between Italian men and women is already huge, but if we consider foreign women, who find themselves facing both economic and cultural barriers, it becomes even more significant.
Anna Lapinthen emphasized the urgency of closing the gap: “We cannot talk about real economic growth as long as such a wide wage gap persists. There should be similar earning and career opportunities.”
